September Trainer Newsletter: Special Awards, Clinics, Party Tickets, and more.

September 11, 2024

26 days stand between all of us and the start of the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover. This email contains vital information to get you through those 26 days. Do not skip it. Special Award Nominations are posted and inquiries are open for a limited time. Tickets for the TB Makeover Awards Party are on sale; get them while early-bird pricing is still available. Registrations for the inaugural TB Makeover Clinics are OPEN and spots are LIMITED. There is so much more to cover, so you’ll just have to read the rest of this email to stay current!

Special Award Nominations

Please visit your horse’s profile on the entries list to see which special awards your horse has been nominated for. The special award nominations are shown in the “Makeover Details” box on each horse’s public entry profile. If you don’t have a special award section in that box, your horse has not been nominated for any special awards. Reminder that horses entered in the Broodmare division are not eligible for special awards.

If you believe there has been a mistake with your horse’s special award nominations, you must report the error using the Special Award Inquiry form by 5pm ET on Friday, September 20^th. Trainers are responsible for ensuring their horse has been nominated for any relevant special awards, and using the form to report any errors, by that date. We will not be accepting inquiries or making changes to a horse’s special award nominations after September 20^th.

Awards Party Tickets

Tickets are on sale for the Thoroughbred Makeover Awards Party now! The party will take place in the Kentucky Horse Park’s Big Barn on Friday, October 11^th and doors will open at 5:00pm. Anyone wishing to attend the party must purchase their ticket in advance. Each ticket includes one meal and one drink voucher. Tickets are NOT included with your Makeover entry and will NOT be available for purchase at the door. You will not want to miss out on this fun opportunity to celebrate all of your hard work! Ticket prices will increase on October 7^th. Purchase your tickets here.

Makeover Clinics

For the first time ever, Makeover competitors have the chance to train with the judges after preliminary competition! All clinics, guided schoolings, and ride-a-tests will take place on Friday, October 11^th. Please log in to the Trainer Portal at theRRP.org and tap New Clinic Registration to reserve your spot now. Spots are limited. More information on clinics can be found in last week’s newsletter and in the pinned post in the Trainer’s Facebook group. Sign up by 5pm ET on Monday, September 23^rd. Clinics with less than 70% participation as of the 23^rd will not be offered. Do not wait. This is a great opportunity to make the most out of your Makeover week and ensure you end on a positive note with your horses!

Upcoming Trainer Webinar

Please note: Trainer exclusive webinars will now only be live on Zoom; we will no longer be using Facebook Live in the Trainers Group.

Upcoming webinars:

Thursday, September 26^th at 7pm ET: The Makeover is in 11 Days and I’m Freaking Out!
It’s go-time, but there’s no need for panic. Rayna and Molly walk you through everything you need to know to have a great week at the Kentucky Horse Park. Access via Zoom Video Conferencing (passcode: 031619).
You can email questions ahead of time to secretary@therrp.org with the subject line “11 days webinar.” These questions can be about all things 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover such as stabling, scheduling, schooling, parking, etc.

Newest webinar recording:

Did you miss August’s Arrival Exam and Makeover Horse Management webinar with Dr. Shannon Reed? Watch the recording here, along with all of the other 2024 Trainer webinars.

Last Reminder for EHV-1 and Health Docs

All Makeover competing and non-compete horses must meet our health documentation requirements. The documents must be uploaded in the Trainer Portal prior to your arrival. Your horse will not be allowed on the Horse Park grounds without the following:

For out-of-state horses: a Health Certificate issued within 30 days of your horse’s move-in date (cannot arrive to KHP before October 7^th)
- Please be aware that you will likely need to get a new health certificate issued before your horse heads home if their health certificate will be outside of the 30 day window as of your move-out date.
For in-state (Kentucky based) horses: a Health Certificate issued within 12 months of your horse’s move-in date (cannot arrive to KHP before October 7^th)
For ALL horses:
- EHV-1 vaccination administered between April 7^th, 2024 and September 23^rd, 2024. Horses with a most recent EHV-1 vaccination that falls before April 7^th or after September 23^rd will not be permitted to compete.
- Proof of negative coggins within 12 months
- Please be sure the name on your horse’s health documentation matches their Jockey Club name. Otherwise, please have your veterinarian provide you with a letter stating that the horse referenced on the health documentation is also known by their Jockey Club name.

Check the rulebook for appropriate forms of documentation. A veterinarian must provide proof of vaccination, you cannot administer your own vaccines.

Event Scheduling and Check-In

A provisional schedule for the event can be found here.
Ride times and stall assignments for each horse will be published at the end of September, likely between the 25^th and 27^th. Please be patient. If you have ride time scheduling requests, they must be emailed to secretary@therrp.org by 5pm ET, TOMORROW, September 12^th. There are no guarantees that these requests will be accommodated.
Stalls will not be available for move-in until NOON on Monday, October 7^th. This is per our contract with the Kentucky Horse Park. If your horse will be arriving to Lexington before noon on Monday, you will need to make alternate arrangements until check-in opens.
- Rider check-in will be open from 12pm to 6pm on Monday, October 7^th and from 8am to 4pm on Tuesday, October 8^th.
- Arena familiarization/ticketed schooling will take place on Tuesday, October 8^th. It is recommended you arrive on Monday in order to take full advantage of the schooling opportunities.
- If you/your horse will not be arriving until after 4pm on Tuesday, October 8^th, you must email secretary@therrp.org by 5pm ET on October 1^st to make alternate arrangements for check-in and your arrival exam.

Catch Rider and Scratch Forms

The catch rider nomination and scratch forms are available through the portal. Use the dropdown menu in the Actions column next to your horse’s Makeover entry to select “Request a Catch Rider” or “Submit a Scratch Form.”

If you are no longer able to compete your horse in the event and would like to nominate a catch rider, please read the rules for catch riding at the Makeover on page 17 of the rulebook. We have strict rules regarding the use of catch riders and who is considered an eligible catch rider. Make sure you are fully informed on the rules before nominating a catch rider.

Should you need to scratch for any reason or at any time, you must complete the scratch form via the Trainer Portal. Failure to properly scratch your horse’s entry will result in a $100 no show fee.

Refunds

Stabling and discipline fees are refundable minus a $75 processing fee per horse on scratched entries until ride times and stall assignments are published. Once ride times and stall assignments are published, final entry fees are non-refundable. All other fees (registration, clinics, and Marketplace) are non-refundable at this stage. If you will no longer be competing and would like a partial refund on your final entry fees, you must complete the scratch form and email secretary@therrp.org to request the refund. Refunds are not automatically issued on scratched or withdrawn entries.

Earn Back Your Entry Fees

There is still time to be reimbursed for $350 in Makeover entry fees by reaching your $1,000 goal in the Make the Makeover fundraising campaign! PLUS, there are sweet prizes for our top fundraiser: an extra $500 bonus from the RRP, and a HERO PICO PEMF unit from sponsor Magnus Magnetica! Share your journey with family, friends, and your horse’s racing connections to raise money for the RRP and earn back entry fees.

Makeover trainers entered as individuals or team captains must follow this link to set up their fundraising pages. Once created and approved, each trainer’s fundraising pages will be linked to their horse’s profile(s) on the entries list to help their efforts. Individual fundraisers cannot be combined. Fundraising closes October 10^th.

Volunteers Needed

It takes quite a bit of manpower to make the Makeover happen. We appreciate any time you (or your willing friends and family) can contribute. More details and sign ups are available here. Volunteer shifts can be scheduled around your ride times too! All volunteers will receive a t-shirt, hat, refreshments, and 20% off in the RRP booth for the duration of the event.

Silent Auction Donations Needed

Do you have something you would be willing to donate to the silent auction? Our Makeover silent auction has become a meaningful fundraiser for the RRP and each year it has expanded its unique and diverse offerings of gifts, experiences, art, memorabilia, and more. If you yourself are an artist, business owner, braider, riding coach, bodyworker, etc., please consider donating a voucher for your services or some merchandise! We very much appreciate any donations you can offer or solicit from your community. More details about the silent auction are available here. Donations are often tax deductible.

Adoption Barn Sign-Ups

New this year, ASPCA is inviting non-profit organizations who are not currently Right Horse partners to bring their adoptable Thoroughbreds to the Adoption Barn at the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover. The ASPCA Right Horse Adoption Barn is open to Thoroughbreds of any age or background. It is highly encouraged to bring Thoroughbreds that are eligible for a future Makeover. If your non-profit organization is interested in participating in this event, please complete the ASPCA Adoption Barn Application.

Organizations will be notified of approval or denial by ASPCA within two weeks of completing the application. Horses who are entered to compete in the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover from non-profits who are not currently RH partners are not eligible to be stabled in the Adoption Barn. If you have any questions regarding the Adoption Barn, please email mhutchison@therrp.org. Applications to participate in the Adoption Barn close on September 20^th.

Stall Decorating Contest

This year’s theme is “If Your Horse Was an Olympian,” and trainers are invited to decorate their stalls in the spirit of the Summer Games.

Judging will begin at 2:00 PM on Friday, October 11^th in the barns. A sign-up form will be distributed once stall assignments are posted. Rules for the Stall Decorating Contest can be found here.

The Retired Racehorse Project staff is here to help you have a successful and positive experience preparing your horse for the Thoroughbred Makeover and beyond. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Contact RRP Co-Show Secretaries, Molly Hutchison and Rayna Erasmus, by email at secretary@therrp.org.

All the best,

Molly